Food Manufacturers Will Soon Have Access To A New CSIRO-Bred Barley Variety Which Has Significant Human Health Benefits

Main Category: Water - Air Quality / Agriculture
Also Included In: GastroIntestinal / Gastroenterology;  Nutrition / Diet
Article Date: 21 Jun 2008 - 6:00 PDT

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"The recent signing of a license agreement between the CSIRO/Australian Capital Ventures Limited joint venture and Austgrains Pty Ltd has paved the way for large scale commercial crops of BARLEYmax® - unique grain developed by CSIRO using conventional plant breeding techniques," says the Director of the CSIRO Food Futures Flagship, Dr Bruce Lee.

"It contains more than twice the amount of insoluble and soluble fibre found in wheat or oats, as well as resistant starch, which helps promote healthy digestive bacteria," Dr Lee says.

Austgrains' Managing Director, Warren Hannam, says the unique nutritional characteristics of BARLEYmax are a valuable addition to the range of healthy food ingredients available in Australia.

"Austgrains specialises in supplying grain and functional food ingredients to the food manufacturing industry, making BARLEYmax a perfect fit for our company," he says.

Austgrains Pty Ltd is a private company associated with publicly listed Washington H Soul Pattinson and Company Limited and its group of companies, producing and marketing specialty ingredients such as the Nu Soya range of soy products and omega-3 oils.

BARLEYmax Business Manager, CSIRO's Geoff Ball, says clinical testing by CSIRO Human Nutrition has shown that products made with BARLEYmax - such as breakfast cereals, muffins and breads - have a low Glycaemic Index and strong bowel health attributes.

"Further testing showed BARLEYmax has excellent processing properties and foods made with the new grain have a naturally sweet, slightly nutty taste," Mr Ball says. "With large volumes to be produced soon by Austgrains, healthy foods made with BARLEYmax are likely to be on Australian breakfast tables in the near future."

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Article adapted by Medical News Today from original press release.
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Source: Geoff Ball
CSIRO Australia